Tube-splicing apparatus



June `3, 1930.

F. J. SHOOK TUBE SPLICING APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 4 Sheets-#Sheet l Jgne 3, 1930. F. .LSI-100K 1,761,754

TUBE SPLIC ING APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 figg- June 3, 1930. F. J. SHOQK 1,761,754

TUBE SPLI C ING APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 5 June 3, 1930. F. J. sHooK 1,761,754

.TUBE SPLICING APPARATUS f5 ff m Y v' Y W W v/ './/L/ /j//- A Patented June 3, 1.930

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLORAIN J. SHOOK, F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO SEMPLE-LEE PROCESSES, INC., 0F

AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE TUBE-SPLICING- APPARATUS Application led April 9,

This invention relates toapparatus for splicing tubes and is of especial value in splicing together the ends of a length of uncured rubber tubing in the manufacture of inner tubes for tires.

My chief objects are economy of time, economy of labor and high quality of product. More specific objects are to provide improved apparatus for splicing the tube ends together and trimming excess rubber therefrom in the same operation; to provide for uniformity of the splice in successive tubes; and-to avoid numerous inconveniences and annoyances which heretofore have attended the splicing' of tacky rubber tubes, and especially annular tubes, in a transverse annular p seam.

.Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, medial section, on line 1-1 of Fig. 2, of a machine embodying and adapted to carry out my invention in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3- of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an elevation-of the same from th right of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical, longitudinal, medial section through the splicing sleeves and adjacent parts, with the splicing sleeves and the work therein positioned preparatory to the splicing operation. v

Fig. `7 is asimilar section with the parts in splicing and trimming position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of amandrel and a reinforcing band of uncured rubber mounted thereon.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame 10 formed with a bracket 11 rising from one end thereof and vhaving' mounted thereon, and fitted between rising lugs 12, 12 formed on the bracket, the lower.

section or block 13 of a two-part splicing sleeve havingthe lower section 14 of a twopart annular die securedtherein and projecting horizontally therefrom toward the middle of the machine, the said sections c011-v stituting the lower half of a tube-surrounding structure having, when the two halves 1927. Serial No. 182,332.

are held together, a horizontally wide and vertically narrow tube-containing space.

rIhe upper half of the tube-surrounding structure comprises a block 15 hinged at one end, at 16 (Fig. 2), to the lower block and adapted to fit between and seat against the lugs 12 and having mounted therein and vprojecting horizontally therefrom toward vide a narrow, flat, annular face 21 (Fig. 6), y

when they are held together, to serve as a backing for the annular edge 18 to cuti against, are secured, as by screws 19, 19, 20a, 20a (Fig. 3) in respective blocks 22, 23

which are hinged together at 24 (Fig. 2) and mounted similarly to the blocks 13, 15 abo-ve described, but upon a slide 25 dovetailed upon a guide 26 (Fig. 3) formed upon the frame 10, the slide being mounted for movement from and toward the stationary sectional die 14, 17 with its die 19, 2O aligned therewith. Screws mounted similarly to the screws 19a, 2()a may be employed fo-r holding the stationary die-sections 14, 17 in their blocks, and dowels such as the dowel 27 (Fig. 3) may be employed for holding the blocks of each pair in registry when they are closed together.

For concurrently lifting the upper blocks 15, 22 and their die-sections sufficiently to permit the insertion and removal of the work the said blocks have secured thereon,

the stationary die-structure 14, 17 the slide has pivoted to its respective sides at 135, 35 a pair of levers 36, 37 of' the thirdclass which are roundedat their upper ends and work against shoulders 38, 39 formed on the slide, to avoid strain on the pivots. The

-levers 36, 37 are connected at their lowerl ends by a gimbal bar 40 which is adjustably, connected at its middle to the frame @f theff' machine by a screw-bolt 41 having sufficient 44 of the second cla-ss fulcrumed on a shaft 45 mounted inthe frame of the machine. The toggle lever 44 `is formed with hubshoulders or lugs 46, 46, adapted to abut shoulders or lugs 47, 47 formed on the bearing portion of the machine frame to limit thelevers movement toward an over-center position and thus avoid excessive pressure of the die-structures 14, 17 and 19, 20 against each other.

For actuating the toggle-lever in the dieactuating direction a one-way cylinder 48 (Figs. l and 3) is formed in the machine frame and its piston 49 is connected by a connecting-rod 50 with an arm 51 of the toggle lever, the said'arm 51 having such angular relation to the pivotal connections of the links 42, 43 to the toggle lever that when the said lever closely approaches an over-center position the arm 51 see Fig. l) will operatewith increasing mec` anical advantage, the construction being such that the movable die structure will first rapidly approach the stationary die structure and will then be pressed against it with great force because of the said mechanical advantage.

It will be observed that the piston 49 is mountedffor movement parallel with and in the same direction as the die-carrying slide 25, and it has a longer travel than said slide,-falso that the piston is single-acting and its link 50 connects with the togglelever 44 through the open end of cylinder 48. This structure provides a simple and compact die-operating mechanism in which a 'piston of comparatively-small diameter furnishes the necessary pressure enabling the working tools properly to perform their functions.

For returning the parts to work-receiving position the arm 51 is connected-by a chain 52, running over a guide pulley 53, with a weight 5 Opposed to the piston 49 is a cylinderhead block 55. secured to the part of the machine frame which constitutes the cylinder and for charging and venting the cylinder the cylinder-head block 55 is formed with a passage 56 (Fig. 1)'in constant cpmmunication with a venting valve-'chamber 57 formed in the cylinder-head block, the pase sage 56 also being adapted to. be put in communication with a charging valve-chamber 58 formed in the block, by the lifting lof aftappet-valve 59.

fluid-pressure pipe 60 vcommunicates with the charging valve-chamber 58 and an exhaust pipe 61 is in communication with the venting chamber 57.

Al poppet valve 62 is mounted in the venting'valve-chalnber 57, with its stem extending downward through a suitable aperture in the cylinder-head block and projecting therefrom y,and for lifting the valve to vent the cylinder to the exhaust pipe andy for permitting the valve to be closed by ravity and the force of pressure fluid in t e passage 56 a three-armed cam-lever 63 is fulcrumed at 64 on the cylinder-head block.

`Thelever 63 is urged toward valve-opening position by a compression spring 65 interposed between its upper arm 66 and the cylinder-headblock.y A middle arm 67 of the lever extends under the stem of the exhaust valve 62 and is provided with an adjustable tappet screw 67a adapted to contact thesaid stem tol lift the valve from' its seat. v

The lower arm 68 of the lever is formed with an oblique cam-face 69 and an adjoining longitudinal cam-face 70 adapted to be run upon, for lowering the valve 62 and The stem of the charging poppet valve 59 projects from the lower face of the cylinder-head block and is urged toward valveclosing position by a compression spring 75 interposed between the block and a washer 76 secured upon the lower end of the stem. The arm 72 is Aprovided with an adjustable tappet screw 77 adapted to contact the stem of the' charging valve 56 to open the latter,

in the upward movement of the arm, after the roller 71, acting against the oblique cani face 69 of the lever 63, has permitted the exhaust valve 62 to close, and in the downward movement ofthe arm to permit the charging notch 81 adapted to receive a stud 82 jecting from the hand lever, and the latching frame is provided with a handle 88 and requires the use of one of the operators hands for lifting it to release the hand lever while the other hand is applied to the lever itself to actuate it, so that bot-h of the operators hands are required to be employed at a distance from the die structures in bringing the latter together, and safety against the crushing of the operators hands between the die structures is thus provided.

For holding the hinged upper blocks and 22 of the die structures .in closed relation to the lower die blocks respective latching bars 84, 8,5 are swiveled in brackets projecting from the lower blocks 13, 23 and are provided at their upper ends with respective latching lugs 86, 87 adapted to take over projections formed on the upper blocks when the bars are turned to latching position. Handles 88, 89 project fr'om the said lugs for so turning the bars.

To prevent the lifting of the latching frame.7 8, unlatching of the hand lever 74 and forcing together of the die structures except when the latter are latched in closed condition, lateral projections or lugs 90, 9].l

are formed on the lower' ends of the latching bars 84, 85 and extend in such direction therefrom as to prevent the lifting of the latching frame when the die structures are unlatched but to permit the lifting of the latching frame when the die structures are latohed.

In Fig. 8 is shown an elongated mandrel 92, preferably of wood or other light material, and formed with an annular groove extending longitudinally around the mandrel and adapted to seat an endless strip 93 of unvulcanized rubber stretched onto the mandrel, the 'mandrel being of such size as to be supported by adhesion of the band 93, in one end of an unvulcanized tube 94 mounted in the stationary die structure 14, 17 and cuffed back over the projecting end portion of the latter as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This internal mandrel 92 and reinforcing strip 93 may be dispensed with, and are not claimed as part of my invention.

In the operation of the machine, the hand lever 74 being held in upright position by engagement of its stud 82 in the notch 81 of the latching frame 78 and the slide 25 with its die structure 19, consequently being held atits work-receiving posit-ion, re-

mote from the stationar die structure 14, 17, by the dWeight 54, the ,atching bar's 84, 85 are turne iby means of the handles 88, 89 to unlatch the hinged die structures, the upper sections of the latter are lifted by de- `pressin the foot lever 34, and the end porproand the mandrel 92 with the rubber rein' forcement band 93 thereon is mounted in one of the cuffed-back vend portions of the tube, preferably that which is mounted in the sta-- tionary die structure.

The die structures being latched closed and the lugs 90, 91 consequently projecting outwardly from the machine as shown in Fig. 5, the latching frame 78 is lifted by .one hand of the operator, rasping its handle 83, to clear the frame rom the stud 82, and with his other hand the operator throws the lever 74 to the position shown in Fig. 4, which, through coaction of the arm 72 and lever 63, first permits the exhaust valve 62 to close and then opens the charging valve 59 and drives the piston 49 to the left (Fig. 1), actuating the toggle lever 44 and through the links 42 and levers 36 forcing the slide and its die structure 19, 20 toward and against the stationary die structure 14,17, the toggle lever providing a high mechanical advantage as the die structures closely approach each other.

In coming together the die structures first press the two tube ends adhesively together at their annular folds and also, especially in consequence of the inner bevels of the die structures, press the tube ends strongly against the reinforcing band 93, which is internally supported and conlined by the mandrel 92. They thus join the three rubber elements in a strongly pressed and thoroughly coalesced seam and also, as they come into contact with each other they sever the excess rubber from the exterlor of the seam,

f in an annular line of cut, as shown in Fig 7.

The severed annular structure of excess rubber is then torn and removed from the die structures which it encircles, the die structures are opened and the spliced tube is removed and, either before or after the opening of the die structures and removal of the tube, the `slide 25 is returned to workreceiving position by raising the hand lever 74 to an upright position.

The operation of the machine as described is then repeated upon successive tubes.

The mandrel 92, remaining in the annular tube at the end of the-splicing operation, is removed therefrom through the valve-stem hole 94athe elongated and narrow form of the mandrel being such as to permit this without excessive stretching of the wall of the valve-stem hole.

My invention is susceptible of modification within its scope as` defined by the appended claims, and it may` also be adapted for splicing articles of rubber or analogous material other than endless tubes.

I claim 1. Tube-'splicing apparatus comprising a pair of splicing sleeves and means for forcing one of the sleeves toward the other in axial `alignment therewith, each vof the said sleeves comprising complemental sections separable for removal of an annular tube y therefrom, and interconnected means for able to open and close the sleeve, a common,

`treadle device for concurrently moving said sections to open the sleeves, and operating connections between said sections and treadle device.

4. Apparatus for splicing adhesive materia-l comprising a pair of relatively-movable seam-forming-members, apower device for relatively moving said members, and means requiring the concurrent use of both hands of the operator for bringing said power device into action. j v

5. Apparatus for splicing adhesive material comprising a pair of relatively-movable seam-forming members, 'a power device for f relatively moving lsaid members, means rey quiring actuation by one hand of an opera` tor forbringing said power device into operation, and latching mea-ns requiring concurrent actuationby the other handfor normally holding'the iirst said means retracted and for releasing it when so actuated.

6. Apparatus for splicing adhesive material comprising a pair of splicing members,

one of which is movable toward yand from the other, a fluid-pressure piston and c linder, a valve controlling said cylinder, a andle requiring the use of one hand of the operator for actuating said valve, and a handle-restraining latch requiring the concurrent us'e of the other hand for releasing said handle.

7. Tube-splicing apparatus 4comprising a splicing sleeve including a section hinged at one end to open and close the sleeve, and

yone end to open and close the sleeve, and ymeans acting at the other end of said section for lockingit in closed position.

9. Apparatus fr splicing adhesive material comprising a pair of relatively-movable seam-forming members at least one of which includes a section movable to open and close the device, a lock for holding said movable section in closed position, a power device for relatively moving said members to perform the splicing operation, a control deviceffor bringing said power device into action, and means interconnected with said lock for preventing the operation of said control device while the lock is retracted.

10. Apparatus for splicing adhesive material vcomprising a splicing member, a reciprocating fluid-pressure motor for actuating said member, and connections between said member and motor for decreasing the rate of travel and increasing the splicing power of said member as the motor approaches the end of its operating stroke.

l1. Apparatus for splicing adhesive ma.- terial comprising a reciprocating splicing member, a laterally-adjacent reciprocating, fluid-pressure motor having projecting and retracting movements in the same direction as, and of greater amplitude than those of said member, and operating connections be-` tween said motor and member.

12. Apparatus for splicing adhesive mai terial comprising a slidably-mounted spli'c-v ing member, a laterally-adjacent, openended power cylinder containing a singleacting piston, and a second-,class lever linked to said piston and operatively connected with said slide for moving the -latter in the samedirection as, and with a shorter stroke than the piston. v

13. Apparatus for splicing adhesive material comprising a slidably-mounted splicing member, a laterally-adjacent power cylinder and piston, a third-class lever bearing on said slide, and a second-class lever linked to said piston and to said third-class lever andA adapted to transmit the motion of the piston 'to the slide in the same direction,

with a reduced amplitude, and also arranged to increase the splicing power of said member as the piston nears the end of its'outstroke. Y e j In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of April, 1927.

- Y FLORAIN J. SHOCK.

means for lock'ingsaid section in closed poy.

sition.

-8. Tube-splicing apparatus comprising a splicing sleeve including a section hinged at izo 

